27/03/2017 Channel Islands News

With one week to go, there are calls to delay Guernsey's

It's not all sweetness and light as far as Alderney is concerned and I

would like to see a better deal. Good evening and welcome to the late

news from BBC Channel Islands. I'm Charlie McArdle.

Also tonight... Alderney tourism gets

a boost from books - Literary festival proves

a hit with authors. With one week till it becomes law,

there are new attempts to delay Guernsey's Population Management

regime. The States convenes on Wednesday

to approve the legislation. The proposals include introducing

a new permit system for workers - the length of the permits depends

on the type of job. The longest for roles such

as nurses, social workers and some The business sector have

criticised the plan, saying it'll impact on migrant

workers that the industry relies on. But it'll also impact on those

wanting to move within the Bailiwick They'll have to have 14 years'

residency in the Bailiwick, have lived there with parents before

the age of 18 and be under 30. And if they want to move to Guernsey

for education they have to prove they've been offered a place

on a course. Deputy Peter Roffey described

the proposals as ludicrously restrictive for youngsters

in Alderney and Sark. Children that were either born

there or brought up there will not only have to wait 14 years before

they can either train or work in Guernsey,

they will also only be able to take jobs for which an employment permit

would be granted anyway for somebody I don't think that will be

much of a special place for families in the communities

within the Bailiwick. Do you think the younger generation

are getting a raw deal? I am not trying to courage anybody

to leave Alderney and Sark, Those populations need to remain

viable. but it worries me when people pursue

a career that is not available there, we are pushing them

right out and saying, go to the UK and pursue

your career there. I don't think that is

what we should be doing at all. While you may disagree

with the proposals, the president for the Committee for Home Affairs,

Mary Lowe, says that the agreement has been made with the Alderney

States on behalf of the people She may say that,

and she may be right. All I know is that an Alderney

representative who sits in the Guernsey States says

that is not correct. Another letter is going to follow,

spelling that out. That shows it is not

all sweetness and light as far as Alderney is concerned

and we would like to Guernsey's government say changes

in the way doctor's notes are handled are helping employers

deal more effectively with workers on sick leave.

The Social Security Department brought in a new sickness

certificate and capability assessments in 2015,

with the aim of trying to get people The head of operations says

ultimately they're trying Jersey's tax system

could be redesigned. The Treasury Department's

commissioned a report into the impact of changes

introduced since 2006. It found that low to middle earners

are paying less income tax than they would have done if those

measures hadn't been brought in. It also shows those on lower

incomes are more affected by the goods and services tax -

known as GST - The Treasury may recommend changes

following the review. The department's also

considering tougher action on people Jersey has quite an outdated system.

There is no charge for late payment but there is no interest payment

chargeable on outstanding tax which is perhaps in dispute.

Most jurisdictions have a range of penalties for mis-declarations,

That is not available to the tax office in Jersey.

There is no civil route, which is easier.

Tourism bosses in Alderney say the industry's been

boosted by the third annual Literary Festival which took

Award-winning authors from across the UK were in Alderney

for book signings and talks on the theme of historical fiction.

Alderney - home to WW2, Victorian and Tudor era fortresses.

And, fittingly, to an annual historical literary festival.

Over the weekend, fans of the genre enjoyed talks by writers.

About a range of historical settings, some quite close to home.

For many of the writers, it was their first time in Alderney

It has been on the bucket list for years.

We have friends who have been saying, you must go,

I can't imagine why it has taken me so long to get here.

It is beautiful, full of history, what is not to like?

It is the richness of a history which stretches back from today

Since it began back in 2015, the festival has brought over around

a dozen authors a year, this year from as far

And it attracts more than 200 visitors from the UK

and the Channel Islands, mostly locals but around 30 to 40

from the other islands and the UK, though organisers say expensive

and limited flights mean the number is lower than it could be.

Nevertheless, tourism bosses say the festival is a big help

It brings people during the shoulder months and even

We have seen a clear increase of visitors this week

Organisers hope to bring authors over from further afield next year,

to raise Alderney's profile in the world of literary festivals

and to try to encourage more people to visit the island.

Sport now - and Jersey Reds has pulled off one

of its greatest wins - beating this season's undefeated

Championship leaders London Irish at St Peter.

The victory came just after news that the club's former chairman

On Saturday, more than 3,000 fans, half of this stadium,

watched Jersey Reds triumph over London Irish.

What an incredible achievement! Amazing.

Given the level that the club is playing at,

After that win, the sad news that the man who brought

professionalism to the club, Chris Scott, has died?

Yes, I personally played with Chris throughout the '80s

Looking ahead to next Sunday, London Irish in the cup semifinal?

Yes. They've been using the competition

to give younger players a bit of a run out.

But after this, they may change tack but whoever it is,

Good luck and we will be following Jersey Reds next weekend.

Channel Island surfers will now be able to compete internationally

in their own right - and not under the Great British flag.

Jersey and Guernsey surfers have historically had to get a place

in Team GB to compete in events across the world.

The president of the Channel Island Surfing Federation says the hard

work and collaboration between the islands to become

a member of the international surfing federation has paid off.

It has taken over two years for the Channel Islands surfing Federation

to be finally accepted by the International surfing Association.

This means that for both Jersey and Guernsey suffers, it is a great

opportunity to serve all round the world. Add great locations. Also,

they will be ambassadors for the islands.

After a gorgeous day in the islands, can we expect more of the same?

Good evening. Lovely weather and glorious sunshine, but it is

starting to change over the next few days. The weather for the week ahead

is twofold. More cloud coming our way, possibly producing a few

showers. And it starts to turn colder especially towards the end of

the week and the start of the weekend. We are still on the edge of

an area of high pressure. This area of low pressure may introduce more

cloud but we won't see much, perhaps the odd shower tomorrow. The changes

on Wednesday and Thursday. Fees whether France will get close enough

to produce rain. We still have this high pressure to the EEC so a lot of

the activity will pass to the west of us. Even by Thursday and Friday

of this week. By the time we get to Saturday, will see a weather front

introducing cooler air and a spring bring showers. Overnight tonight,

very little change. Clear sky and cloud coming in and temperatures

down to eight or 9 degrees. The winds pick-up tomorrow, from the

South or the south-west. Patchy cloud, the remnants of the weather

front might produce a few showers and. 14 or 15 degrees will be the

maximum. By Wednesday, we will see figure cloud and some showers but

still sunny spells. -- thicker still sunny spells. -- thicker

cloud. Showers more frequent towards the end of the week. Temperatures

will gradually come down. Quite warm on Thursday ahead of that weather

front. Once it goes through, 12 or 13 degrees. Have a good night.

That's your news this Monday evening.

BBC Radio Guernsey and Jersey will have bulletins from 6am

showery on Saturday, dry and brighter on Sunday and if we go back

to the temperatures in the next couple days, you see those highs on

Thursday. He is John Hammond with the national

this cyclone Debbie crashes onto the Queensland coast with violent winds

and flooding rains, that will head southwards in the next few days in

the direction of Brisbane. We will keep